Package vending column



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS A ril 27, 1965 Filed May 9, 1963 R E L T I H C A G w P. R on m s N E E v m N I J Y B 0 4 2 2 O O 2 2 8 9 W 4 7 7 2 3 K J r 8 6 2 6 0 6 A\\2 5 2 3 4 w 0 8 ml 9 .c J. 0 8 2 O r O a Q m m 2 o e 4 6 I 3 4 I 7 F llllll IIL 9 H ouounvuuuuuu uuuonnnUUUOUUUUMUUUUUUUQUUOQUHVQ e A g m C 8 6 2 3 4 4 A ril 27, 1965 J, P. WACHTLER PACKAGE VENDING COLUMN 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed May 9, 1963 FIG.

FIG.

INVENTOR JAMES P- WACHTLER ATTORNEYS FIG.

A ril 27, 1965 .l. P- WACHTLER 3,180,520

PACKAGE VENDING COLUMN Filed May 9, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.

INVENTOR JAMES P. WACHTLER BY m ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,183,525) PACKAGE VENDING CflLlJll IN James P. Wachtler, 121S /2 Dougias as, Omaha, Nebr. Filed May 9, 1963, Ser. N 279,193 11 Claims. (Cl. 221--86) This invention relates to improvements in package vending columns and in particular is concerned with such a column that operates with a trigger release occasioned by the dropping of a cocked weight.

Bymeans of this invention there has been provided a simple package vending column which can be used in various types of vendin g machines. Then vending column is used with conventional vending circuits and requires only the employment of an actuating solenoid and a relay switch as the electrical components. It is a significant feature of the invention that a notched cam and a pin cam are used incooperation with one another to provide a regulation of a weight which can be employed to release triggers. The so-called triggers are used to hold packages by a pinching action and the release of the triggers permits the. vending of the packages by gravity.

The package vending column, through the employment of a weight, can be very simply set up by having the maintenance or service operator wind the mechanism much as in a counterweight cloclcso that the weight is fully raised within? the column. Then, in any subsequent vending operation, .the'weight drops down one step to provide the necessary force'to actuate the triggers. The employment oftthe controlmechanism is only to regulate the movement of. the weight by the proper control of the regulating cams.-

The package vendingcolumn'is very simple to set up and operate, and by the employment of rugged componentsis well built to withstand service requirements. Further, maintenance is simple to eilect where required.

The above-features are objects of this invention and further features and objects will appear in the detailed description which follows and will be otherwise apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of-illustration of this invention there is shown in the accompanying drawings a preferredembodirnent thereof. It is to be understood that these drawings are for thepurpose of example only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of the topiof the column with the top triggers disengaged'and the bottom triggers cocked;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view in elevation of the top por tion of the column;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the column;

FIGURE 4-is a view in section on the l ne t lof FIGURE 2 showing the'construction of the chain guide and the trigger aides;

FIGURE 5 is a view in section taken'on line'5-5 of FIGURE 4 showing' further-details of construction of the trigger guides and engaging elements;

FIGURE 6 is a further view in side-elevation taken from the opposite side of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a view in'front elevation of the'top' of the top portion of the column; and

FIGURE 8 is an exploded viewshowing the various elements of the pack-age vending column.

Referring now to. the drawings, the package'vending in.FIGURES 1 through 7. It includes as its maior coma ponents atront face of the column 2.2, a plurality of, triggers 24,- a'trigger release or'harnrnerelcment 2E6 connected to a weight 28. The actuation of the weight is controlled by a sprocket chain 3t connected to a sprocket 32 that is integralwith a pin cam 34. The pin cam 34 a column is generally indicated .bythe reference numeral 26* cooperates with a notched cam 36 that is controlled through acarn arm 38 by a solenoid td. A switch fz'is engageable by the pin cam 34'to cut oil the circuit at the completion of a vending operation.

The vending column 2t has its construction best shown in FIGURES 3, 4'and 5. As there shown, it is comprised of the front face 22 to which areconnected two longitu dinally extending strips of foam rubber 44, which are adapted to be engaged by a bottom lip 46 of the trigger to. hold the top of a package therebetween against the force of gravity. When the trigger is released in the position shown in FEGURE 5, the package will drop downwardly in a vendingoperation, as will be well understood. The column, in addition to the front face 22, has a longitudinally extending angle iron 48' extending to'the rear of the front face of the column to provide a guide for the weight as it descends from the top to the bottom of the column; In'addition, another angle iron 56 is connected to the back of the front face of the column to provide withthe longitudinally extending'rnernber 52 a' guide for the triggers. The member 52 also serves to support one end of a coil spring 54 while the other end of the coil spring is connected to the rear of the trigger to bias thetrigger forwardly away from the front face.

Thetriggerconstruction is best shown in FIGURESA and 5 and, as shown, the triggers 24 have a fiat'guide' element Stirpassingthrough a guide opening 58 in the front wall of the column. The members 5% and 52 serve to guide the triggers in their movement.

The triggers are-engaged in their cocked position by means of a trigger slug-or catch 6-9 whichcooperates with:

a trigger notch-62 in the trigger itself. The triggers are further provided with a contacting surface 64' by means" of which the trigger engaging element 26 carried-by theweight moves the trigger downwardly from the position shown-in FIGURE 5 away frontthe engagement with:

the trigger catch to permit the biasing action of the spring to move the trigger forwardly where it disengages the package caught between the trigger lip 46 and the strip i 'foam rubber.. It will also be understood, however, that instead of this arrangement, where desired, the biasing action of the spring can be used such that the trigger can'move an article carried in trays associated with each of the-triggers so as to move the article forwardly to a dispensing position should this be desired.

The triggenengaging elementlfi is best shown in FIG- URES 2, 4, 5 and 8. As there shown, .it is connected to the weight 28 and has a horizontally extending element above the weight 'whichacts as a hammer when ithits the contacting surface 64 of. the trigger to cause the triggers release. A trigger releasetguide 79 is likewise provided which engages the front face 22 of the column. and'provides for guidingzmovernentthroughguide element72,

which engages the flanged-over side portion of'the front face. Guide element 74 connectingthe trigger engaging; elementtiwith"thetop-of the. weight likewise adds a.

stabilizing. and guidinginfiuence as it guides against the vertical elementiStl within the column. 76 at the front of the guide bracket'70 serves to push-the package associated with. trigger. downwardly should it.

catch; andalsoservesasanindicating device to a viewer to determine the position'of the weight in the column.

The weightchain'sil', as best appearsin FIGURES 2,. 3' and-8; is'threaded over asprocket element78connected.

integrally to'thepin'cam, while the end .of the chain oppositeth'e-con ecti'on'tothe'weight'is provided with a manually engageable dislcflor ring titl'by means ofwh'ich anoperator may pullfthe' chain downwardly to raise the weightto the fully cocked position at the top ofthe col umn. Theendportion ofthe chainconnected to the element 86 fits within a chainguide 32 for its protection.

and a slot is provided in this guide at 84 to receive a con- Patented Apr.- 2?, 1965 A' tab element 3 necting pin or ring 36 connecting the end of thechain with the disk 80. r e

The regulating or control mechanism for the weight comprises the actuating solenoid 4%), which actuates the notched cam '36, the pin cam 34, and the switch 42. The actuating solenoid 4% is connected to a conventional coin mechanism circuit (not shown), such as that shown in Emmons Patent No. 3,055,552. The solenoid 40 is provided with a movable armature 99 connecting it by cam arm 38 to one side of the notched cam 36, as best shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 8. The cam 36 is biased to the unoperated position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 by means of a biasing spring 92 connected to the armature at one end and a mounting wall 94 at the top of the column which also supports the notched cam.

' The pin cam 34 is likewise supported at the top of the column upon another mounting wall 96. The pin cam 34, as aforementioned, is integrally connected with the sprocket wheel 32 over which the weight chain 30 is connected so that. the pin cam and the sprocket wheel move in unison. The pin cam is further'provided with two contact pins 98 and 1%. It will be understood that one or more than two pins may be employed in which event the distance the weight falls will be increased or reduced, respectively. The pin 98 normally rests in blocking engagement to prevent movement of the pin cam by a limiting movement against the notched cam at the point indicated by reference numeral 102 in FIGURES 2 and 8. As will more fully appear hereinbelow in the operation of the control mechanism, the pin 102 is adapted to be engaged in the notch 184 of the notched cam to provide a one-half revolution of the pin cam to control the movement of the weight.

vThe pin 1% of the pin cam rests against an operating arm 1 06 of the switch 42. In the movement of the pin cam in the clockwise'direction, the switch arm 166 is moved to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 2, to operate a movable contact 108 of the switch and break the switch circuit, thereby releasing the solenoid 40, which completes the regulating action of the control mechanism.

Operation The operation of the package vending column will be described in its simplest operation, that'is for a single column. It will be understood that a number of such columns can be used, each provided with a different type.

of package, and that conventional selection switches, commonly used in the vending art, can be employed for such circumstances. It will likewise'be understood that various types of vending cabinets may be employed as will be well understood in the art.

Inthe operation of the package vending-column, the column is first fully set up by having the operator, which maintains the column, grasp the disk handle 86 and draw it downwardly so as to raise the weight 28 toits uppermost position. The packages, such as bags of potato chips, sandwiches, or the like, are then filled in the column by placing the usual tab portion of the package underneath the lip 46 of the individual trigger and then pushing the trigger inwardly until it is cocked by engagement of the trigger notch 62 with the trigger slug or catch 60. Each one of the triggers is cocked and loaded in this order.

Thepackage vending column is now ready for operation and this is accomplished in the usual fashion by dropping a coin in the vending machine coin mechanism, which energizes the usual vending machine circuit and establishes current to the actuating solenoid '40. The actuation of the solenoid operates the armature and the cam arm 38 to move the cam 36 in the clockwise direction. As the cam 36 is so moved, the cam notch 104 is presented into engagement with the pin 98 of the pin cam 32. With this engagement the blocking action of the pin cam is removed and the pin cam in the neutral position i pulled downwardly by the weight 28. The weight 28, with its associated trigger release element, causes the operation of the triggers. This action is effected by the trigger release element 68 striking the contacting surface 64 of the individual trigger, which moves the rear end of the trigger downwardly and out of engagement with the trigger slug or catch 60. The trigger is then released through the biasing action of its spring and moves out to the front of the vending column and releases its associatedpackage for dispensing to the customer.

'In the operation of the aforementioned mechanism, the weight 28 is limitedto downward movement to one-half the circumference of the sprocket wheel 32'connected to the pin cam. This. action is effected as aforementioned by'the movement of the notch cam 36. The slight clockwise movement of the notch cam 36 engages the pin 98 as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 8, and in this engagement the pi'n'cam moves a slight degree in the clockwise direction. This slight movement causes the movement of the other pin 1% against the switch arm 106, and the contact 108 to break the vending circuit. w t

As the vending circuit is broken, the actuating solenoid is released'and its armature drops downwardly moving the notch cam back to the original position shown in FIG- URE '2. This movement of the notch cam allows the pin 93 to'move substantially one-half of its revolution to the next limiting position. Thus, the position of the pins )8 and 1% is reversed from the position shown in FIG- URE 2, and in this free action theweight 28 drops freely to provide the necessary momentum to release the trigger by the hammering or striking action of the trigger release against the trigger contact surface.

The next vending operation is accomplished in the same identical fashion by the insertion of another coin and the ultimate release of the next lowermost trigger. This operation is repeated until all of the triggers'and the associated packages connected between thetrigger lip and the foam rubber cushion have been dispensed. The vending column is then set up for another operation just as previously described. I

Various changes and modifications may be made within this inventionas will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teachingof this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An article vending column comprising a vertical column support, a plurality of article engaging triggers supported by said support, each of said triggers having biasing means operable upon a release of said trigger to move said trigger to dispense the article engaged by it, weighted trigger release means engageable with said trig gers and regulating means controlling the movement of the weighted means into engagement, with individual triggers in successive steps. I

2. An article vending column comprising a vertical column support, a plurality of article engaging triggers supported by said support, each of said triggers having] biasing means operable upon a release of said trigger to move said triggerto dispense the article engaged by it, means for cocking 'said triggers comprising trigger catching elements supported upon said column engageable with said trigger and means biasing the triggers in cocked engagement against said trigger catching elements, weighted trigger release means engageable with said triggers and regulating means controlling the movement of the Weighted means into engagement with individual triggers in successive steps. V 1

3. An article vending column comprising 'a vertical column support, a plurality of article engaging triggers supported by said support, each of said triggers having biasing means operable upon a release of said trigger to move said trigger to dispense the article engaged by it,

4. A vending column comprising a vertical column support, a plurality of article engaging trigge s supported by said support, means biasing said triggers against a resilient facing upon said support to engage an article between a lip of the trigger and said resilient facing, means for cocking said triggers comprising trigger catch ing elements supported upon said column engageable with said trigger and means biasing the triggers in cocked engagement against said trigger catching elements, weighted trigger release means engageable with said triggers, said trigger release means being engageable with said triggers to disengage them from the trigger catching element and release the trigger whereby said biasing means actuates the trigger to dispense an article associated with it, and regulating means controlling the movement of the weighted means into engagement with individual triggers in successive steps.

5. A vending column comprising a vertical column support, a plurality of article engaging triggers supported by said support, means biasing said triggers against a resilicnt facing upon said support to an article between a lip of the trigger and said resilient facing, means for cocking said triggers comprising trigger catching elements supported upon said column engagcable with said trigger and means biasing the triggers in cocked engagement against said trigger catching elements, weighted trigger release means engag-eable with said triggers, said trigger release means being engageable with said triggers to disengage them iron the trigger catching element and release the trigger whereby said biasing means actuates the trigger to dispense an article associated win it, said trigger release means including an article engaging element adapted to brush the article off the supporting column against any tendency to resist disengagement after the associated trigger has been released, and regulating means controlling the movement of the weighted means into engagernent with individual triggers in successive steps.

6. An article vending column comprising a vertical column support, a plurality of article engaging triggers supported by said support, each of said triggers having biasing means operable upon a release of said trigger to move said trigger to dispense the article engaged by it, weighted trigger release means engageable with said triggers, said rigger release means comp-rising a weight connected to a chain engageable with regulating means controlling the movement of the weighted means into engagement wtih individual triggers in successive steps, said regulating means including a sprocket wheel engaged by said chain, said chain being further connected at end opposed to the Weighted means to a ring adapted to be manually engaged whereby said weighted means may be pulled upwardly to a fully loaded position.

7. An article vending column comprising a vertical column support, a plurality of article engaging triggers supported by said support, weighted trigger release means engageable with said triggers, said trigger release means comprisirn a weight connected to a chain engageable with regulating means controlling the movement of the wei htcd means into engagement with individual triggers in successive steps, said regulating means including a sprocket wheel engaged by said chain, said chain being further connected at an end opposed to the weighted means to a ring adapted to be manually engaged whereby said weighted means may be pulled upwardly to a fully loaded position, said regulating means further including a first cam operable by a solenoid and a second cam connected to the sprocket wheel and engageable with the first d cam, said second cam being further engageable with a switch connected to the energizing circuit of said solenoid whereby upon operation of the solenoid the first cam cooperates With the second cam to control its movement and permit the weighted means to drop one step upon the next lowermost cocked trigger.

8. An article vending column comprising a vertical column support, a plurality of article engaging triggers supported by said support, weighted trigger release means engageable with said triggers, said trigger release means comprising a weight connected to a chain engageable with regulating means controlling the movement of the weighted means into engagement with individual triggers in successive steps, said regulating means including a sprocket wheel engaged by said chain, said chain being further connected at an end opposed to the weighted means to a ring adapted to be manually engaged whereby said weighted means may be pulled upwardly to a fully loaded position, said regulating means further including a first notched cam oscillatably operable by a solenoid and a second cam provided with a plurality of pins located on opposed sides of the center of the cam, said second cam being axially connected to the sprocket wheel, said opposed pins of the second cam being separately engageable with the notched cam and a switch connected to the energizing circuit of said solenoid whereby upon operation of the solenoid the first cam cooperates with the second cam to control its movement and permit the weighted means to drop one step upon the next lowermost cocked trigger.

9. An article vending column comprising a vertical column support, a plurality of article engaging triggers supported by said support, each of said triggers having biasing means operable upon a release of said trigger to move said trigger to dispense the article engaged by it, means for cocking said triggers comprising trigger catching elements supported upon said column engageable with said trigger and means biasing the triggers in coclred engagement against said trigger catching elements, weighted trigger release means engageable with said triggers, said trigger release means comprising a weight connected to a chain engageable with regulating means controlling the movement of the weighted means into engagement with individual triggers in successive steps, said regulating means including a sprocket wheel engaged by said chain, said chain being further connected at an end opposed to the weighted means to a ring adapted to be manually engaged whereby said weighted means may be pulled upwardly to a fully loaded position.

10. A vending column comprising a vertical column support, a plurality of article engaging triggers supported by said support, means biasing said triggers against a resilient facing upon said support to engage an article between a lip of the trigger and said resilient facing, means for cocking said triggers comprising trigger catching elements supported upon said column engageable with said trigger and means biasing the triggers in cocked engagement against said trigger catching elements, weighted trigger release means engageable with said triggers, said trigger release means being engageable with said triggers to disengage them from the trigger catching element and release the trigger whereby said biasing means actuates the trigger to dispense an article associated with it, said trigger release means including an article engaging element adapted to brush the article oil the supporting column against any tendency to resist disengagement after the associated trigger has been released, said trigger release means comprising a weight connected to a chain engageable with regulating means controlling the movement of the weighted means into engagement with indi vidual triggers in successive steps, said regulating means including a sprocket wheel engaged by said chain, said chain being further connected at an end opposed to the weighted means to a ring adapted to be manually engaged whereby said weighted means may be pulled upwardly to a fully loaded position.

11. A vending column comprising a vertical column support,a plurality of article engaging triggers supported by said support, means biasing said triggers against a v resilient facing upon said'support to engage an article between a lip of the trigger and said resilient facing, means for cocking said triggers comprising trigger catching ele merits supported upon said column engageable with said trigger and'means biasing the triggers in cocked engagement against said trigger catching elernents, weighted triggerrelease means engageable With said triggers, said trigger release means being engageable with said triggers to disengage them from the trigger catching element and release the trigger whereby said biasing means actuates the trigger to dispense an article associated with it, said triggervrelease means including an article engaging element adapted to brush the article off the supporting col umn against any tendency to resist disengagement after the associated trigger has been released, said trigger release means comprising a weight connected to a chain engageable with regulating means controlling the movement'of the weighted means into engagement with individual triggers in successive steps, said regulating means including a-sprocket wheel engaged by said chain, said chain being further connected at an end opposed to the weighted means to a ring adapted to be manually engaged whereby said Weighted means may be pulled upwardly to a fully loaded position, said regulating means further including a first notched cam oscillatably operable by a solenoid and a second cam provided with a plurality of pins located on opposed sides of the center of the cam, said second cam being axially connected to the sprocket wheel, said opposed pins of the second cain being separately engageable with the notched cam and a switch connected to the energizing circuit of said solenoid whereby upon operation of the solenoid the first cam cooperates with the second cam to control its movement and permit the weighted means to drop one step upon the next lowermost cocked trigger.

References tilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 532,526 1/95 Bryce 221 2,208,298 7/40 Mahalley 22186 FOREEGN PATENTS 754,531 8/56 Great Britain LOUES J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

10. A VENDING COLUMN COMPRISING A VERTICAL COLUMN SUPPORT, A PLURALITY OF ARTICLE ENGAGING TRIGGERS SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORT, MEANS BIASING SAID TRIGGERS AGAINST A RESILIENT FACING UPON SAID SUPPORT TO ENGAGE AN ARTICLE BETWEEN A LIP OF THE TRRIGGER AND SAID RESILIENT FACING, MEANS FOR COCKING SAID TRIGGERS COMPRISING TRIGGER CATCHING ELEMENTS SUPPORTED UPON SAID COLUMN ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TRIGGER AND MEANS BIASING THE TRIGGERS IN COCKED ENGAGEMENT AGAINST SAID TRIGGER CATCHING ELEMENTS, WEIGHTED TRIGGER RELEASE MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TRIGGER, SAID TRIGGER RELEASE MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TRIGGERS TO DISENGAGE THEM FROM THE TRIGGER CATCHING ELEMENT AND RELEASE THE TRIGGER WHEREBY SAID BIASING MEANS ACTUATES THE TRIGGER TO DISPENSE AN ARTICLE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, SAID TRIGGER RELEASE MEANS INCLUDING AN ARTICLE ENGAGING ELEMENT ADAPTED TO BRUSH THE ARTICLE OFF THE SUPPORTING COLUMN AGAINST ANY TENDENCY TO RESIST DISENGAGEMENT AFTER THE ASSOCIATED TRIGGER HAS BEEN RELEASED, SAID TRIGGER RELEASE MEANS COMPRISING A WEIGHT CONNECTED TO A CHAIN ENGAGEABLE WITH REGULATING MEANS CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF THE WEIGHTED MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH INDIVIDUAL TRIGGERS IN SUCCESSIVE STEPS, SAID REGULATING MEANS INCLUDING A SPROCKET WHEEL ENGAGED BY SAID CHAIN, SAID CHAIN BEING FURTHER CONNECTED AT AN END OPPOSED TO THE WEIGHTED MEANS TO RING ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY ENGAGED WHEREBY SAID WEIGHTED MEANS MAY BE PULLED UPWARDLY TO A FULLY LOADED POSITION. 